Means for preventing accidents at railway-crossings.



No. 7I3,74l. Patented Nov. l8, I902.

C. E. BROWN.

MEANS FOR PREVENTING ACCIDENTS AT RAILWAY CROSSINGS.

(Appiication filed Apr. 16, 1902.)

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(Application filed Apr.- 16, 1902.)

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CYRUS E. BROWN, OF JOHNS'lOlVN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR. TO THE LORAINSTEEL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

MEANS FOR PREVENTING ACCIDENTS AT RAILWAY-CROSSINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 713,741, dated November18, 1902.

Application filed April 16, 1902. Serial No. 103,160. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CYRUS E. BROWN, of Johnstown, in the county ofCambria and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Means for Preventing Accidents at Railway-Crossings, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification.

My invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements inmeans for preventing accidents at i'ailwaycrossings, and is designed toprovide means of simple character which will prevent a car or train onone road from crossing another road until it has been ascertained thatit is safe for it to do so. The invention is particularly adapted foruse where an electric-railway line crosses a steam-line and will bedescribed in that connection, although it may be adapted for usewherever two railway-lines cross, no matter what motive power may beused on such lines. My invention consists in the combination with anobstruction placed in one of the intersecting lines adjacent to thecrossing arranged to normally prevent a car or train from proceedingover the crossing and adapted to be manually operated to clear the lineand a spring acting in opposition to such manual operation of anelectromagneticallyoperated locking device arranged to prevent theaction of said spring and means for controlling the action of saidlocking device situated upon the opposite side of the crossing from theobstruction. A car or train on approaching the crossing is stopped bythe obstruction, and the latter is moved by the motorman to clear theline. Owing to the action of the spring, however, the line cannot bekept clear to permit the car or train to procecd until the magnetic lockis brought into action. The conductor or other employee is thereforeobliged to proceed in advance of the car or train to the opposite sideof the crossing and close the circuit of said locking device before thecar or train can proceed.

My invention also consists in the novel construction, arrangement, andcombination of parts, all substantially as hereinafter described, andpointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating theinvention; Fig. 2, a plan view of the derailingswitch, its spring, andlocking device; Fig. 3, a similar View showing the said device inlooking position; Fig. 4, a detail sectional view showing the switchwhich controls the circuit of the locking device.

The letter A designates the rails of an electric railway, and B therails of a crossing-line of steam-road.

C is a trolley-wire supported from the usual span-wires D.

E is a derailing-switch which is placed in one of the rails A a shortdistance from the crossing. In the present instance the switch consistsof an ordinary pivoted tongue,whioh is normally held in position to openthe main line by means of a spring F. The spring-box G is made largerthan the ordinary springbox, and placed therein is a solenoid H. Themovable core of this solenoid is formed by one end portion of arod I,which is mounted to slide in suitable guides L and which is formed withan openingor slot through which normally extends the projecting end ofthe spring-rod g of the switch-tongue, as shown in Fig. 2. A spring Kacts on the rod 1 in opposition to the solenoid. The coil of thesolenoid is included in a branch circuit L between the trolley-wire andthe return side of the circuit, the resistance of said circuit and coilbeing suificient to prevent short-circuiting of the line.

The branch circuitLleadsthroughaswitchbox M, which is situated at theopposite side of the crossing from the derailing-switch and whichcontains a simple make-and-break switch M. The conductor which forms thebranch circuit L may be carried from the trolley-wire O to a pole N,towhich the switchbox M is secured, thence to a second pole N to thederailing-switch, and thence underground to the spring-box G.

When a car approaches the steam-crossin g, it must, of course, stop onreaching the derailing-switch. The motorman takes his bar and throws theswitch-tongue over into the forms a lock to hold the switch-tongue inthe main line. The engaging surfaces of the rods g and I are preferablybeveled, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, or other means are provided forreducing the friction of such engagement, in order that when the magnetis denergized the spring k may readily return the rod I to its normalposition. As shown in Fig. 4, the door of the switch-box M cannot beclosed until the switch is opened. This door is preferably provided Witha suitable lock, and the rules of the road should require the conductorsin all cases to lock the box before returning to their car. As soon asthe switch M is opened the spring K returns the rod I to its normalposition and releases the lock for the switch-tongue,which is thereuponimmediately returned to its derailing position by its spring.

Where the invention is used in connection with roads which do not employelectricity as a motor-power, thecurrent required to energize thesolenoid may be taken from any convenient source.

My invention is not limited to the employment of a derailing-switch ofthe type shown, since I may use any other suitable type of switch andeven an obstruction of an entirely diflterent character. I do not,therefore, wish to limit myself to the particular embodiment of myinvention which I have herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. As a means for preventing accidents at railway-crossings, thecombination with an obstruction placed in one of the intersecting linesadjacent to the crossing and arranged to be manually operated to clearthe said line, and a spring acting upon said obstruction in oppositionto manual eitorts, of an electromagnetically-operated locking device, acircuit therefor, and means for controlling said circuit situated at theopposite side of the crossing from the obstruction.

2. The herein-described means for preventing accidents atrailway-crossings, composing a derailing-switch in one of theintersecting lines adjacent to the crossing, a spring normally holdingsaid switch at its derailing position, a locking device for holding theswitch against the action of the spring, and electromagnetic meanscontrolled from the opposite side of the crossing for moving saidlocking device into operative position.

3. The herein-described means for preventing accidents atrailway-crossings, comprising a derailing-switch in one of theintersecting tracks, a spring normally holding said switch at itsderailing position, a solenoid, a locking member actuated by thesolenoid,and a switch for controlling the circuit of the solenoid, saidswitch being located on the opposite side of the crossing from thederailing-switch.

4. The herein-described means for preventing accidents atrailway-crossings, comprising a derailing-switch in one of theintersecting tracks, a spring acting to normally hold said switch at itsderailing position,a movable locking member for said switch,electromagnetic means for actuating said locking member in onedirection, a spring for actuating it in the opposite direction, and aswitch for controlling the circuit of the electromagnetic actuatingmeans, said switch being located at the opposite side of the crossingfrom the derailing-switcb.

5. In means for the purpose described, the combination with means fornormally obstructing a railway-track, andelectromagnetically-operated-locking mechanism for the obstructingdevice, of a switch for controlling the circuit of said electromagneticmeans, a box inclosing said switch, and having a door portion and meanswhereby said door portion cannot be closed except when the switch is inposition to open the circuit.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

CYRUS E. BROWN.

Witnesses:

GEo. H. PARMELEE, H. W. SMITH.

